Keiki in the Kitchen: Dinner in a Dash

When the school year starts, you have a lot on your plate. So, who has time to cook up something new for dinner every night? Here’s an idea: Make one pot of marinara sauce that can be transformed into completely different meals with just a few new ingredients you may already have at home.

We put together a four-meal plan using recipes from two Hawai‘i chefs. To streamline your shopping list, we looked for dishes that utilize leftover items from the night before.

Get creative! Let the kids top their own pizzas with items left from last night’s tacos or shop in your pantry and refrigerator. In addition to the usual cheese, pepperoni, mushrooms and olives, try: Leftover bacon, rotisserie chicken, Portuguese sausage, salami or any kind of deli meat. You can even bake bacon in the oven while toasting the pizzas and crumble it on top. Bell pepper, chopped fresh tomatoes, spinach or any other vegetables you have lying around. Cassera loves roasted zucchini, eggplant or broccoli on her pie. Crumble a little seasoned, roasted kale on top for some crunch. Sauté ground beef, spread it on top and cover with cheddar for a cheeseburger pizza. Or cook the beef with a little taco seasoning, top with cheddar, bake and finish off with shredded lettuce for a Mexican version.

Toast in the toaster oven or bake in the oven at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes until cheese is melted and edges are crispy.